The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-10-27
THE SWALLOW FAMILY.
A Few of the Habits Peculiar to the swift
Winged Chirpers.

A Few OF the Habits Peculiar to the Swift.
Winged Chirpers.
Most of the swallows of Europe and
America belong to the genus Mru1dq.
They are all noted for their speel.
When after their food. which generally
consists of insects, they fly after them
with remarkable skill and grace, going
at the rate of mile minute. They
often drink while flying over stream
at high rate of speed, and they often
wash themselves by taking sudden
plunge. They live on the wing more
than any other bird, and. it is claimed,
feed their young in the air. Although
quite graceful when on the wing, they
are directly the opposite when on the
ground, being very awkward and
clumsy. This is caused by their wings
being long and the legs short. The old
belief that swallows foretell rain by
flying low seems very logical. As their
food consists of insects they would be
liable to fly where insects are most
abundant. Insects fly very low in
damp weather, so it seems that it can
not be very unwise to say that they
fOretell rain by flying low. 1t has been
estimated that they eat 1000 insects a
day. This is a large number and
seems too much, but the claim is made
by those who have made the matter
a study. Their nests are generally
made of mud and clay, but through
out the South the people make
them boxes. This is done more for
protection than any thing and the
novelty of the boxes warrants descrip-
ton. The farmers cut long smooth
sapling. often being sixty feet long.
He nails cross pieces on these saplings
as on a telegraph pole. To each OF
these cross pieces he will add, say eight
large gourds, which in their wild state
in the South grow to be very large. He
cuts these gourds so that the birds can
get in, and before two weeks have past
the gourds are filled with swallows.
They always receive the best attention
and protection. for they not only kill
insects, but they are a foe of the hawk.
No hawk ever appears where there are
swallow boxes, for if he did, he would
receive a good drubbing. The best
known species of the swallow in the
world is the chimney swallow. 1t is
about six and one-half inches long, its
back blush black with band on the
chest, and the throat ruddy. 1t gener-
ally has white spot on the inner wei
of each tail feather except the two
innermost. The tail is very long and
forked. AS the name indicates, it fire.
quents chimneys, but it also builds its
nest in old walls, shafts of mines and
among the rafters of barns and sheds.
The nest is very peculiar, being cup
shaped and made of earth and straw,
lined with feathers. This is attached
to wall or roof and makes a very
strong nest. The parents are very at
tentive to the young and defend them
bravely. They have two broods, but
the second is sometimes left to perish,
not being able to quit the nest in time
ageOus and are very sweet singers.
The analogue of. this species in Amer
lea is not the one called the chimney
swallow, but what is known as the barn
swallow. 1t is seven inches long and
thirteen inches between the tip of the
wings. 1t inhabits nearly all parts OF
America. appearing in the Southern
States from February to March. A |
few reach the New England States 10y |
May. Its nest is made of moist earth |
mixed with grasses and is attached to
rafters of barns and buildings. The |
nest is about eight inches long and six
inches in diameter. They have been
found weighing as much as two pounds.
Incubation lasts thirteen days, both
sexes assisting. and both occu-
pying the nest at night until
the young are Matched. This is
the species that so often collects to-
gether in large fiocks on telegraph
wires, barns and sheds and they keep
up continual chirping all the time.
They start for the South about the last
If August or the first of September,
selecting some fair morning. They do
lot fly very high, and follow the course
If rivers. The cliff swallow is about
i've inches long and twelve inches in
liar extent. Its crown and back are
teei blue. and are separated by gray
,ollar. The chin, throat and sides are
# dark chestnut, but the breast is
White. The cliff swallow is found all
'ver America, and is often called the
epublican swallow. Thes-nest is gen
,rally built under caves and cOrnices,
where it is partly sheltered from the
ain. The nest is made of earth and
and. and is lined with straw and
,rass. The sand swallow. which is the
of all. generally builds its nest
n tubular gullies along the banks of
ivers, often running them back three
eet. The swallow, it must be admit
ed, does more good than harm, and it
Gems that it should be protected
springfield TO- Times.
Americas Timber Supply. ;
Notwithstanding the great draw upon